TIMES MALANG, MALANG – Malang has transformed into a living canvas for an entire generation of creative industry players. No longer known solely as a city of education, Malang is emerging as one of Indonesia's key centers for creative industry growth. Supported by a thriving ecosystem, the city has successfully cultivated the vast potential of their creative products.

The creative economy is the embodiment of added value from intellectual property, which stems from human creativity and ideas rooted in social, cultural, and scientific knowledge, as well as technological advancements.

The city of Malang holds potential across 16 creative sub-sectors, which include: fine arts, performing arts, architecture, interior design, visual communication design, product design, film, animation, and video, photography, crafts, culinary arts, music, fashion, application and game development, publishing, advertising, and television and radio. 

With its abundance of creative human resources drawn primarily from its student and academic communities and the strong presence of higher education institutions, the city has successfully cultivated a sustainable creative economy ecosystem.

According to the official website of Malang City Government, The economic impact of Malang's creative drive is undeniable. In 2022, the sector's contribution to the local economy soared to 6.32%. Fueled by a powerful spirit of collaboration, the city is now making confident strides toward global recognition as a prospective member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network 2025. 

This endeavor is more than a quest for a title. It is a true reflection of the creative pulse that beats in every corner of Malang, cementing its identity not just as a city, but as a grand stage for boundless imagination and innovation.

As the second-largest city in East Java, this metropolis increasingly embodies the life of a city thriving within a creative economic ecosystem. "Innovative, Adaptive, and Collaborative" has become the mantra, a guiding spirit driving the city's creative identity with the ultimate goal of enhancing the prosperity of its people.

This vision is brought to life through the dedicated support and synergy of diverse sectors: government, industry players, and academia. The government, in particular, continues to champion this potential by constructing a landmark creative center a building designed to serve as both a dynamic platform and a monument to the evolution of the creative industry in Malang.

The journey began with a pivotal moment in 2016: the establishment of the Malang City Creative Economy Committee (KEK), which produced a clear road-map for the creative economy. This blueprint solidified the crucial need for both a physical space and a research hub to truly anchor the sector's growth.

From that point until today, a wave of collaborative creative activities has swept through the city, embraced by numerous associations and communities. This constant stream of joint initiatives serves as powerful proof of the deeply ingrained spirit of collaboration and mutual growth that defines the creative industries across the greater Malang area.

The Malang Creative Center (MCC) stands as a flagship initiative by the Malang City Government, meticulously designed to manage and safeguard the city's entire creative economy ecosystem. Officially inaugurated on September 22, 2023, but already operational since December 2022, MCC embodies a powerful philosophy: "From Malang for Indonesia and the World," establishing itself as the true epicenter for creative entrepreneurs.

MCC is poised to accelerate Malang's economic growth over time, guided by its "8C" principles: Creative, Create, Communication, Collaboration, Commerce, Champion, Consistent, and Culture. These pillars form the foundation for fostering a vibrant creative atmosphere that resonates from Malang to the nation and the globe.

By adapting the Pentahelix model uniting Academician, Business, Community, Government, and Media (ABCGM) and uniquely expanding it to include the health sector, MCC has built a truly inclusive framework. This ensures that every layer of society has a direct pathway to contribute and collaborate through the center.

Based on their official website, Malang Creative Center has already become a bustling hub, facilitating more than 14,000 events and showcasing 2,940 creative economy performers. It has united 218 collaborators and directly impacted 733,086 benefit recipients. These are not static figures; they are set to climb higher as the industry's dedicated players continue to contribute and innovate.

Ultimately, the rise of the creative industry in Malang is not a fleeting trend it is a maturing, ever-growing ecosystem. The dedication to building spaces for connection and networking, powered by an unshakeable spirit of collaboration, has positioned Malang as a key benchmark for the creative industry in Indonesia.

With this solid foundation and the continued support of all its stakeholders, Malang is poised to go even further: to inspire other regions, and to consistently produce innovations that not only elevate the local economy but also carry Indonesia's name with pride on the global stage. (*)

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*) Oleh : Muhammd Kamal Fasya, Mahasiswa Politeknik Negeri Malang Jurusan Komunikasi Bisnis dan Profesional. 

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